Setting

Neighboring fishing village and Southern Sea Towns -- Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island -- comprise the Emerald Coast.

Anchoring Florida’s upper north coast, the Gulf of Mexico borders the south, Pensacola and Panama City are west and east respectively and Alabama edges the northern cap.

 

Description

The collaboration of shocking white sands and brilliant green waters ribbon for 24 miles (38km) along the Gulf. More than 60 percent of the beaches will be preserved forever in their sweeping, virgin purity.

Surrounded by the Gulf, Choctawhatchee Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, lakes and bayous, and riveted with miles of docks and harbors, a refreshing water bound charisma emerges.

Sparsely scattered with sea oats, sand pines and blossoming magnolias, six-mile (10km) stretches of gentle sand dunes alternate with glimpses of “civilization” and pockets of beach parks with pavilions and gazebos along a picturesque coastline.

An aquarium of treasures is found from loggerheads and leatherbacks to lion’s paws and horse conchs. Beach-basking feathered friends are as simple as sandpipers and as expressive as snowy egrets.

Threaded with serpentine marshes and laced with sun-kissed creeks, a number of wildlife preserves quietly claim the beauty of Mother Nature.

Time Zone, surprisingly -- Central Natural time warp for its leisurely pace.

Distinctions

Acclaims from the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” and some of the world’s finest underwater shelling to undeniably fresh seafood and the starring role in famous Hollywood films. Named “Number One Beach in the South” and one of the top five “Favorite Family Vacation Destinations” by the readers of Southern Living for nine consecutive years.

Climate

Average of 343 Sunny Days Per Year

Gulf attributes combine with water clusters caressed by gentle breezes to cool even the warmest Mercury readings -- creating year-round tempting temperatures.

• SPRING High 77 ° 25C Low 60 ° 15C
• SUMMER High 89 ° 32C Low 74 ° 23C
• FALL High 80 ° 27C Low 60 ° 15C
• WINTER High 61 ° 16C Low 42 ° 6C

Special Events (More Than 300 Annually)

Festivals

• 4-Player Volleyball Tournament April
• Billy Bowlegs Festival June
• Dog Days Open Billfish Tournament August
• A.J.’s Annual King Mackerel Tournament September
• Destin Fishing Rodeo October
• Destin Seafood Festival October
• Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival October
• International Invitational Golf Tournament Mid-October
• Northwest Florida Fair October
• Christmas Boat Parade December

Activities

Enticements include Searching for eight-pound (4kg) queen helmet shells in underwater sunken forests, challenging 1,080 holes of famous golf, fishing from Florida’s largest charter boat fleet for the elusive big blue, sailing along the emerald-flecked surf, tubing down meandering moss-draped rivers and sun bronzing on pure white powdered shores. 

Dining (more than 450 restaurants)

Restaurants serve some of the freshest seafood in Florida. A justified claim as there are always at least 20 tasty types of fish available for savoring during any one season.

Bordering the gulf, harbor, bay or bayou, culinary characters range from cedar seafood shacks, lighthouse-bedecked oyster bars and tiki-topped harbor decks to gracious antebellum estates and elegant Gulf-air cafes.

Emerald Coast specialties spotlight tastes of the South, from authentic Louisiana Cajun crawfish gumbo, beer-battered fried mullet, hush puppies and pecan pie to continental and
European cuisine.



Accommodations (more than 18,000 Beach Rooms)

Reasonably priced options from seaside cottages and a beachside bed and breakfast to spacious condominiums and popular chain hotels.

Seasonal Average Rates:

* Hotel guest room ** Two bedroom condominium

Three Campgrounds

Conference - More than 70,000 total square feet of space/meeting facilities

• Emerald Coast Conference Center --
• Emerald Grand Ballroom - 21,500 sq. ft./Divisible into Four Sections
• Palm Ballroom - 1,830 sq. ft./Divisible into Two Sections
• Sunset Ballroom - 1,250 sq. ft./Divisible into Two Sections
• Island Ballroom - 1,000 sq. ft/Divisible into Two Sections
• Sand Castle Ballroom - 500 sq. ft.
• Dolphin Ballroom - 465 sq. ft.
• Pre-Function Space - 8,580 sq. ft.

Special Touches:

• Wi-Fi Technology
• ISDN Video Conferencing
• LCD Projection
• Surround Sound Speaker System
• STSN High-Speed Internet Access
• In-house Catering
• Convention Services and Meeting Planners

Access by car:

U.S. 98 travels along the Emerald Coast, edging the Gulf through Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island

From 331 south, take Highway 85 south at the Alabama/Florida line, straight into Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island

From I-10, exit on to Highway 85 south at the Crestview/Fort Walton Beach exit and head straight into Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island

256 miles (412km) from New Orleans
268 miles (431km) from Birmingham
316 miles (509km) from Atlanta
427 miles (686km) to Disney World

Access by air (two nearby airports/eight major carriers)

Okaloosa Regional Airport

Serviced by Atlantic Southeast Airlines/ Delta Airlines, ComAir, Continental Express, Northwest Airlines, Skywest and USAir Express

Pensacola Regional Airport

Serviced by Continental, Delta Air Lines/Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Northwest Airlink, US Airways and US Airways Express, and AirTran

One hour and 15 minutes from Atlanta
One hour and 30 minutes from Nashville
Two hours and 30 minutes from Dallas/Ft. Worth

Dancing Dolphins to Historic Museums

Attractions

At Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island, where the only castles are made of white sand and the most razzle is the dazzling jewel tone of the Gulf, simplicity is celebrated with nothing fancy, just fun “flip-flop” museums, aerial and aqua acrobatics, and the purest of pleasures -- dancing dolphins, sand dollars and postcard perfect sunrises and sunsets.

Natural Inspirations

The Beaches and Waters Whether likened to fine sugar or powdery snow, pearls, chalk or porcelain, the shores stretch like miles of ribboning white satin and are simply sensational -- perhaps even shockingly, sun-bleached white. Acclaimed as the “Number One Beach in the South” by the readers of Southern Living for the eighth year in a row, the water is illuminated brilliant green by the near-blinding whiteness, creating a collaboration which is undeniably the star “attraction.” Continuing to surpass expectations -- the coupling showcases both sunrises and sunsets.

The Shallows

Dancing dolphins display mesmerizing grace and unabashed playfulness as they tumble and twirl within the breeding ground of the shallows along the Santa Rosa Sound and Destin Harbor. Daily duneside seating is compliments of Mother Nature.

Amusements

Gulfarium (850) 244-5169

One of America’s original marine parks (1955), it hosts Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, tropical black-foot penguins, loggerhead sea turtles, harbor and gray seals, American alligators, nurse and lemon sharks, tropical fish aquariums and more in 14 fascinating Gulf-edged exhibits. Dolphin stars Princess, Panama, Brandy, Delilah and newborn dolphin Lili delight with feats from comedic soccer games to 18-foot (540cm) leaps toward the clouds.

U.S. Air Force Armament Museum (850) 882-4062

Riddled with bombs, this museum, one of only three U.S. museums dedicated to the display of Air Force armament, is “protected” by 25 reconnaissance, fighter and bomber planes such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane. Four wars -- WWII, Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf -- are spanned through a fighter cockpit simulator, thousands of weapons, war films, photography exhibits and more.

Indian Temple Mound and Museum (850) 833-9595

The 6,000-piece exhibit, showcasing America’s largest collection of Southeastern Indian ceramic artifacts, journeys through 10,000 years of four prehistoric tribes. The largest Indian mound discovered along saltwater (1400 A.D.) stands guard beside the museum.

Emerald Coast Science Center (850) 664-1261

A child’s fantasy museum of science, it stimulates the imagination with interactive fun and great kids’ stuff like a reflecting Castle of Mirrors, “adult-sized” bubble makers, a literally hair-raising Vandergraph generator, an electrifying Illuma Storm and more.

Nearby Attractions

The Zoo (Gulf Breeze)

Observe more than 700 animals -- hosting towering giraffes to white Bengal tigers -- with a 50-acre African veldt, petting zoo, pachyderm rides, reptile demonstrations and face-to-face giraffe feedings. 

Florida Caverns (Marianna)

Dripping with stalagmites and stalactites, Florida’s only limestone caverns wind through underground depths for fascinating public tours.

Eden State Gardens (Point Washington)

An 1895 Greek revival estate, surrounded by a Southern spread of immense moss-draped oaks and resplendent gardens of camellias and azaleas, overlooks the picturesque Choctawhatchee Bay with the charming character of days gone by.

Information and photos submitted by:

Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc.
1540 Miracle Strip Parkway SE
Fort Walton Beach, Florida  32548
850-668-2222 | 800-322-3319 | Website

Additional visitor information about these and other area attractions is available by calling the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
at (800) 322-3319 or (850) 651-7131 and at www.destin-fwb.com.


 

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